Curly hair has many types. So, if you have really thick, coily hair on your head, well, that is typically a 4C hair type. Here is everything you need to know about straightening your 4C hair to remove all signs of coils and curls. Flat ironing is cost effective but if you want to be care free for days or weeks, visit a Brazilian blowout salon.
Straightening 4C Hair
There is a whole process that involves straightening 4C hair type and it is going to take a while. So, here is everything you need to know about going from curly and knotted hair to a straight mane, step by step.
The Prep
This is before you actually straighten the hair and it involves all of the things you do in the shower and after stepping out.
First, you need to start with shampooing the hair. This is going to get rid of all of the product buildup in your hair and you will be left with clean and manageable hair that will be easier to blow dry and style.
You also want to condition the hair. 4C type hair is probably the trickiest hair type to deal with, so you want to ensure that you are getting all of the nourishment you need from a conditioner. Speaking of hair products, make sure to use hair straightening shampoo, because that will help you get the best results.
The next thing you want to do is brush out the hair as much as you can. This is going to keep the hair tamed and you can move on to the next step without any problems.
The Process
Next up is the hair straightening, but before that, here are some things you want to do.
- Since you’re going to be using heat – and a lot of it – it is best that you go for a hair serum or a hair smoothing or straightening product. However much you can straighten your hair beforehand is going to be the ticket. This will ensure that the end results look amazing.
- Next, you want to plug the straightener in and set the heat to medium. Now, this is something that can go back and forth. Some people will need the tool to be hotter and some can make do with the medium heat, so play it by ear and see what works best for you.
- In the meantime, you also want to focus on making sections in your hair. You want to ensure that the hair sections are not too thick, but they’re not too thin either. You want the heat to be able to straighten the hair as much as possible.
- Next, you want to take the straightener and run the sections through it. You want to go slowly, but don’t have a snail’s pace, otherwise you will risk burning the hair, which is not good at all. Repeat the process until you start to see your hair go from a bird’s nest to looking sleek.
Finishing Touches
Once the straightening is done, you want to do some final steps to ensure that the hair isn’t looking or feeling rough or dry.
Following the straightening, you want to apply a taming oil to the hair. This oil is going to keep the hair looking silky and it will also keep flyaways at bay. You will see the results for yourself.
If you want, you can go in with a hairspray and set the style in place. This is for when you want to go out and ensure that the hair stays in place and doesn’t get frizzy.
Lastly, you want to use a brush and you can even spritz the brush with a bit of hairspray or oil and run it through the strands. This is going to give a professional and sleek look to the hair in the end.
If you use hair extensions, you will need to get at least two types of textures from a hair extensions salon Potomac. One should be for your hair before straightening and the other one should be for your straightened hair.
Alternatives To Flat Ironing 4C Hair
So, now that you know how to straighten your 4C hair, either at home or in the salon, you should know that it is difficult and yet it is not a permanent solution. Depending on the hair, you might see it starting to shift from straight to curly again within a day or two, so if you want something more permanent, then here are some types of hair straightening treatments to try.
Permanent Hair Straightening
Permanent hair straightening is perfect for people with super curly hair, so all of you 4C girlies can assemble and let go of your hair woes. You can go for a permanent hair straightening treatment and that is going to leave the hair looking silky and so much more manageable, but it will also make the hair susceptible to damage, so make sure that you’re taking care of it.
Chemical Hair Straightening
Chemical hair straightening involves the use of chemicals as well as straightening tools to make the hair look straight. Even though a keratin treatment on 4C hair will only make it closer to 4A or 3C, it is important to navigate through different chemical hair straightening treatments to figure out which one is for you.
You can go for a Brazilian blowout or you can also go for something that breaks down the tightly coiled bonds in your hair.
Hair Rebonding Treatment
Lastly, if you want your hair to go from curly to cover girl ready, then you need to consider hair rebonding. It is a mix of hair straightening as well as a chemical treatment and it is going to straighten even the curliest of hair.
The result will be smooth and straight hair with no trace of a curl and the best part? It is done once and you’re good to go for a long time. So, if you want to go down that route, then go right ahead.
How To Take Care Of Straightened 4C Hair?
Now that you’ve achieved straight hair, you want to do everything you can to preserve it. This is why taking care of the hair post-straightening is key. Here are some things you need to do to ensure that your hair looks straight for longer.
- Apply oil to the hair every day. But not just any oil. You want to use oils that will tame the frizz, but not weigh the mane down. This is why going for a styling oil or even hair serum is key.
- You want to keep your hair covered when you sleep. Make sure to wear a bonnet on the hair or even a silk sleeping cap to prevent friction from creating more frizz in the hair.
- Regular trimming is also key to making sure that there are no split ends. Split ends can be the first sign of damage and you want to keep dryness and dullness at bay.
- Finally, style the hair without heat as much as possible. If you really want, you can use a blow dryer to tame the hair and style it and that will be enough to transform your hair.
Conclusion
4C hair can be hard to work with, but it is not impossible to get it looking straight and sleek. It all lies in the prep and how you actually straighten the hair. For permanently straightening your 4C hair, consult a Japanese hair straightening salon Potomac.
